Feed Baltimore Orioles in your backyard with grape jelly

Baltimore Orioles and Grey Catbird Eat Jelly from Backyard Feeder

Watching Baltimore Orioles visit our backyard feeder is one of my favorite parts of spring and summer. They usually show up to our area (Western NY) in May and stay through the fall, nesting and raising their babies in our yard. Once the Orioles know you’re a solid stop, they’ll be regular customers! You can hear them coming a mile away with their distinct whistle.

*A male Baltimore Oriole stopping by our backyard feeder in Western New York*

What to buy to set up your feeder:

Supplies:

Shepherd's hook* if you don’t already have one
Squirrel Baffle* to keep squirrels and chipmunks from finding their way up your pole and in the jelly (Tip: make sure the baffle you choose has an opening that will fit around your shepherd’s hook pole)
Glass Weather Guard* to keep rain and other debris out of your bowls of jelly
Nature's Way Tray Feeder* to hold the bowls
Glass Prep Bowls* to hold the jelly (Tip: These can also be found locally at your grocery store or a place like Target)
Grape Jelly which you can also find at your local grocery store

*Note: items 1-5 are a one-time purchase that you can use all throughout your bird feeding adventures. When Oriole season is over, you can put nuts and seeds in the bowls, or directly in the tray, for example.

Instructions:

Set up your shepherd’s hook and baffle in a spot you can easily see from inside
Hang your glass weather guard from the pole
Hang your tray feeder from the weather guard
Fill your glass prep bowls with jelly and place in the tray!

Watch right from your window or outdoor seating area

Quick tips:

Baltimore Orioles like tall trees, parks and forests, so you are most likely to attract them if you have these near your home.
In western NY, you can put your feeder up as early as May, and leave it up through October until the Orioles leave for the winter.
Rinse and clean the tray feeder and bowls to keep as often as necessary. Replace the grape jelly every 2-3 days, or more often depending on the appetites of your Orioles :)
You can also offer orange halves to attract them, although we’ve found that when given the choice between an orange and grape jelly, they tend to prefer the jelly
Set your feeder up in a spot that you can see from a window or outdoor seating area so you can enjoy your new visitors.
Avoid setting your feeder up too close to a window, so the Orioles don’t accidentally fly into the glass.
Keep your eye out for nests nearby!